U.S. patent number 10,281,883 [Application Number 15/385,687] was granted by the patent office on 2019-05-07 for wearable electronic device adapted for supporting wireless communications.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Motorola Mobility LLC. The grantee listed for this patent is Motorola Mobility LLC. Invention is credited to Katherine Coles, Toshihiro Fujimura, Thomas Gitzinger, Michael Russell, Istvan J. Szini.
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United States Patent |
10,281,883 |
Szini , et al. |
May 7, 2019 |
Wearable electronic device adapted for supporting wireless
communications
Abstract
A wearable electronic device includes a conductive housing,
which has a main body and at least a first pair of conductive lugs
external to and mechanically coupled to the main body. The main
body of the conductive housing forms at least part of an antenna
structure that is adapted for at least one of generating or
receiving the wireless radio frequency signal. The wearable
electronic device further includes a non-conductive pin, which
extends between the ends of the conductive lugs, and a use location
attachment. The use location attachment includes a plurality of
segments, where at least one of the segments, which most closely
mechanically couples to the non-conductive pin and the first pair
of conductive lugs, is nonconductive, and where other ones of the
plurality of segments of the use location attachment are
conductive.
Inventors: |
Szini; Istvan J. (Grayslake,
IL), Russell; Michael (Lake Zurich, IL), Coles;
Katherine (Chicago, IL), Gitzinger; Thomas
(Libertyville, IL), Fujimura; Toshihiro (Chicago, IL) |
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Motorola Mobility LLC |
Chicago |
IL |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
Motorola Mobility LLC (Chicago,
IL)
|
Family
ID: |
62561521 |
Appl.
No.: |
15/385,687 |
Filed: |
December 20, 2016 |
Prior Publication Data
|
|
|
|
Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
|
US 20180173167 A1 |
Jun 21, 2018 |
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A44C
5/107 (20130101); G04B 37/12 (20130101); G04R
60/06 (20130101); G04B 37/1493 (20130101); G04B
37/1486 (20130101); G04R 60/02 (20130101); G04G
21/04 (20130101); G04R 60/12 (20130101); G04R
60/10 (20130101); G04R 60/04 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A44C
5/10 (20060101); G04R 60/12 (20130101); G04R
60/06 (20130101); G04R 60/10 (20130101); G04R
60/04 (20130101); G04B 37/14 (20060101); G04B
37/12 (20060101) |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Other References
Wu et al., Slot Antenna for All-Metal Smartwatch Applications, 2016
10th European Conference on Antennas and Propagation (EuCAP), pp.
1-4, Apr. 10-15, 2016. cited by applicant.
|
Primary Examiner: Wicklund; Daniel P
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Chapa; Lawrence J.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A wearable electronic device adapted for supporting wireless
radio frequency communications including at least one of generating
or receiving a wireless radio frequency signal, the wearable
electronic device comprising: a conductive housing including a main
body and at least a first pair of conductive lugs external to and
mechanically coupled to the main body, where each of the conductive
lugs has a first end that is mechanically coupled to the main body
of the conductive housing and a second end which extends away from
the main body along a length of the conductive lug, and where the
main body of the conductive housing forms at least part of an
antenna structure that is adapted for at least one of generating or
receiving the wireless radio frequency signal; a non-conductive
pin, which extends between the second ends of the first pair of
conductive lugs; and a use location attachment, which mechanically
couples the conductive housing of the wearable electronic device to
a use location via the non-conductive pin and the first pair of
conductive lugs, the use location attachment including a plurality
of segments, where at least one of the segments, which most closely
mechanically couples to the non-conductive pin and the first pair
of conductive lugs, is nonconductive, and where the other ones of
the plurality of segments of the use location attachment are
conductive; wherein the plurality of segments includes a plurality
of links, where each link includes a pair of side lobes separated
by a cross member, the side lobes facilitating a coupling to a next
adjacent link in the plurality of links; and wherein the
non-conductive pin extends through the pair of side lobes and the
cross member of the link corresponding to the non-conductive
segment, which most closely mechanically couples to the
non-conductive pin and the first pair of conductive lugs.
2. The wearable electronic device in accordance with claim 1,
wherein the non-conductive pin is received within a hole, which
extends through the segment of the plurality of segments of the use
location attachment, which most closely mechanically couples to the
non-conductive pin and the first pair of conductive lugs.
3. The wearable electronic device in accordance with claim 1,
wherein the segment of the plurality of segments of the use
location attachment, which most closely mechanically couples to the
non-conductive pin and the first pair of conductive lugs, is at
least partially covered by a metalized outer surface.
4. The wearable electronic device in accordance with claim 3,
wherein the metalized outer surface includes a conductive
sleeve.
5. The wearable electronic device in accordance with claim 3,
wherein the metalized outer surface includes a non conductive
vacuum metallization layer.
6. The wearable electronic device in accordance with claim 1,
wherein the length of the lugs is of a sufficient distance to form
a gap between the main body of the conductive housing and the
segment of the plurality of segments of the use location
attachment, which most closely mechanically couples to the
non-conductive pin and the first pair of conductive lugs.
7. The wearable electronic device in accordance with claim 1,
wherein the use location attachment is a wrist band.
8. The wearable electronic device in accordance with claim 1,
wherein the cross member of the link, which most closely
mechanically couples to the non-conductive pin and the first pair
of conductive lugs, is non-conductive and includes a metalized
surface; and wherein the side lobes of the non-conductive link have
a width, which is adapted to reduce an amount that the associated
cross member with the metalized surface will electromagnetically
couple to the first pair of conductive lugs.
9. The wearable electronic device in accordance with claim 1,
wherein the associated cross members of the links corresponding to
the non-conductive segments are encapsulated by a metal sleeve.
10. The wearable electronic device in accordance with claim 1,
wherein the non-conductive pin is received within a hole, which
extends through the segment of the plurality of segments of the use
location attachment, which most closely mechanically couples to the
non-conductive pin and the first pair of conductive lugs, where the
hole that receives the non-conductive pin extends through the
associated side lobes of the segment most closely mechanically
coupled to the non-conductive pin and the first pair of conductive
lugs, as well as the associated cross member; wherein the side
lobes associated with the segment most closely mechanically coupled
to the non-conductive pin and the first pair of conductive lugs
each have a portion, which overhangs the associated cross member,
and which partially overlaps a cross member of an adjacent segment
in the plurality of segments of the use location attachment, that
is further away from the first pair of conductive lugs, where a
segment coupling pin extends through a cross member of the adjacent
segment that is further away from the first pair of conductive
lugs, and the overhang portion of the side lobes of the segment
most closely mechanically coupled to the non-conductive pin and the
first pair of conductive lugs through a separate set of holes in
the overhang portion of the side lobes; and wherein the hole in the
segment most closely mechanically coupled to the non-conductive pin
and the first pair of conductive lugs, that receives the
non-conductive pin, and the separate set of holes in the overhang
portion of the side lobes for receiving the segment coupling pin
are spaced a distance that precludes the cross member of the
segment of the use location attachment, which most closely
mechanically couples to the non-conductive pin and the first pair
of conductive lugs, and the cross member of the adjacent segment
that is further away from the first pair of conductive lugs from
coming into direct physical contact.
11. The wearable electronic device in accordance with claim 1,
where a link coupling pin, which is conductive, is used to
mechanically couple together adjacent links.
12. The wearable electronic device in accordance with claim 1,
wherein the conductive housing additionally includes a second pair
of conductive lugs external to and mechanically coupled to the main
body of the conductive housing, where each of the conductive lugs
from the second pair has a first end that is mechanically coupled
to the main body of the conductive housing and a second end which
extends away from the main body along a length of the conductive
lug.
13. The wearable electronic device in accordance with claim 12
further comprising a further non-conductive pin, which extends
between the second ends of the second pair of conductive lugs.
14. The wearable electronic device in accordance with claim 13,
wherein the plurality of segments of the use location attachment
are additionally mechanically coupled to the main body of the
conductive housing of the wearable electronic device via the
further non-conductive pin and the second pair of conductive
lugs.
15. The wearable electronic device in accordance with claim 14,
wherein the plurality of segments of the use location attachment
includes a further non-conductive segment, which most closely
mechanically couples to the main body of the conductive housing via
the further non-conductive pin and the second pair of conductive
lugs.
16. The wearable electronic device in accordance with claim 1,
wherein the plurality of segments of the use location attachment
are divided into two sections of a plurality of segments, which are
mechanically coupled together via a latch.
17. The wearable electronic device in accordance with claim 1,
wherein the wearable electronic device is a smart watch device.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to a use location
attachment, such as a band, which attaches to a wearable electronic
device, and more particularly, to a use location attachment which
attaches to the housing of the wearable electronic device via one
or more sets of lugs.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The incorporation of data communications including wireless
communications into a greater number of devices has enabled the
extension of computing networks and corresponding connectivity
beyond the more traditional computing type devices into a space
including an Internet of Things, as well as various smart wearable
type devices. In turn, access to the various connected devices has
been made more convenient through an extension of methods and forms
of interfacing with the connected devices through already commonly
worn wearable type devices, that are beginning to be able to go
beyond themselves and interface more directly with other nearby
devices. At least a couple examples of wearable devices, that are
increasingly able to go beyond themselves and interface more
directly with other nearby devices include smart watches, activity
trackers, smart glasses, wireless headsets, as well as medical
monitoring/control/assist devices, such as hearing aids and
wearable heart rate monitors.
For at least some wearable type devices, size, fit, and style can
be an important consideration. For example, for at least some users
from a style perspective, the type of material used for a watch can
be an important factor. More specifically, for at least some users
there can be a preference for an exemplary wearable electronic
device, such as a smart watch, having a body and a use location
attachment, such as a watchband, which is made to include
conductive materials having a high perception of quality, such as
metal and/or to have a metal finish. However, a conductive material
and/or finish associated with a watch body and/or band can have an
impact on wireless communication capabilities, that have been
incorporated into the device. A conductive housing body can limit
the use of internal antennas, as the conductive housing can have an
impact on radiated signals attempting to enter or exit the device.
As such, many designs having a conductive body attempt to
incorporate the antenna structure into the body of the device.
However, in such instances, nearby metal structures can also
continue to have a variable effect on the performance of an
incorporated radiating structure, such as an antenna. For example,
a metal wrist band to the extent that it can mechanically and/or
electromagnetically couple to other nearby conductive structures
can produce a variable effect that can negatively impact a nearby
radiating structure that might be difficult to overcome and/or
accommodate.
Metal structures for the housing of a wearable type device, can
also provide additional structural strength, while reducing the
volume of material needed to provide support for the desired
structure. Smart wearable devices will often require additional
electronic components, power storage and interface elements to
support the additional functionality. As such, better management of
the structural design can help control the overall size of the
device. In at least some cases, such as in the case of a watch,
moving the attachment point for a watch band to outside of the body
of the watch can also free up additional internal space for the
placement of elements which are helpful in supporting the
additional and/or expanded functionality of the device. In
addition, in at least some cases, moving the attachment point for a
watch band to outside of the body of the watch also can enable the
device to become more adjustable. A set of lugs can be used to
create an external connection point for a use location attachment,
such as a watch band. Having the watchband pivot externally
relative to the watch case, such as around lugs can allow the watch
to fit more tightly around a small wrist person, and/or more
generously around a large wrist person. For at least some users,
from a fit perspective, having a size adjustable device that
performs well is important for comfort, such as when wearing the
device for extended use.
In at least some instances, the lugs will be integrated as part of
the body of the wearable type device. If the body is made from a
conductive material, such as a metal, then the integrated lugs will
often similarly be formed from the same conductive material. In
turn, it will be helpful for these conductive structural elements
to be accommodated in connection with supporting any nearby
radiating structures used in support of wireless
communications.
The present inventors have recognized that in connection with
incorporating conductive and/or metal structures in a wearable type
device, it can be beneficial to be able to limit and/or be able to
better manage any electrical and/or electromagnetic coupling
between the wearable device and the structure used to couple the
wearable device to its use position, such as the device's intended
use location on the body of the user.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a wearable electronic device adapted
for supporting wireless radio frequency communications including at
least one of generating or receiving a wireless radio frequency
signal. The wearable electronic device includes a conductive
housing, which has a main body and at least a first pair of
conductive lugs external to and mechanically coupled to the main
body. Each of the conductive lugs has a first end that is
mechanically coupled to the main body of the conductive housing and
a second end which extends away from the main body along a length
of the conductive lug. The main body of the conductive housing
forms at least part of an antenna structure that is adapted for at
least one of generating or receiving the wireless radio frequency
signal. The wearable electronic device further includes a
non-conductive pin, which extends between the second ends of the
first pair of conductive lugs, and a use location attachment. The
use location attachment mechanically couples the conductive housing
of the wearable electronic device to a use location via the
non-conductive pin and the first pair of conductive lugs. The use
location attachment includes a plurality of segments, where at
least one of the segments, which most closely mechanically couples
to the non-conductive pin and the first pair of conductive lugs, is
nonconductive, and where other ones of the plurality of segments of
the use location attachment are conductive.
In at least one embodiment, the length of the lugs is of a
sufficient distance to form a gap between the main body of the
conductive housing and the segment of the plurality of segments of
the use location attachment, which most closely mechanically
couples to the non-conductive pin and the first pair of conductive
lugs.
In at least a further embodiment, each link includes a pair of side
lobes separated by a cross member, where, in at least some
instances, the cross member of the link, which most closely
mechanically couples to the non-conductive pin and the first pair
of conductive lugs, is non-conductive and includes a metalized
surface, and the side lobes of the non-conductive link have a
width, which is adapted to reduce an amount that the associated
cross member with the metalized surface will electromagnetically
coupling to the first pair of conductive lugs.
In at least a still further embodiment, the non-conductive pin is
received within a hole, which extends through the segment of the
plurality of segments of the use location attachment, which most
closely mechanically couples to the non-conductive pin and the
first pair of conductive lugs. The hole that receives the
non-conductive pin extends through the associated side lobes of the
segment most closely mechanically coupled to the non-conductive pin
and the first pair of conductive lugs, as well as the associated
cross member. The side lobes associated with the segment most
closely mechanically coupled to the non-conductive pin and the
first pair of conductive lugs each have a portion, which overhangs
the associated cross member, and which partially overlaps a cross
member of an adjacent segment in the plurality of segments of the
use location attachment, that is further away from the first pair
of conductive lugs, where a segment coupling pin extends through a
cross member of the adjacent segment that is further away from the
first pair of conductive lugs, and the overhang portion of the side
lobes of the segment most closely mechanically coupled to the
non-conductive pin and the first pair of conductive lugs through a
separate set of holes in the overhang portion of the side lobes.
The hole in the segment most closely mechanically coupled to the
non-conductive pin and the first pair of conductive lugs, that
receives the non-conductive pin, and the separate set of holes in
the overhang portion of the side lobes for receiving the segment
coupling pin are spaced a distance that precludes the cross member
of the segment of the use location attachment, which most closely
mechanically couples to the non-conductive pin and the first pair
of conductive lugs, and the cross member of the adjacent segment
that is further away from the first pair of conductive lugs from
coming into direct physical contact.
These and other objects, features, and advantages of this invention
are evident from the following description of one or more preferred
embodiments of this invention, with reference to the accompanying
drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a view of one or more exemplary wearable electronic
devices being worn by a person;
FIG. 2 is a partial perspective view of a wearable electronic
device including a smart watch;
FIG. 3 is a partial exploded perspective view of the wearable
electronic device including the smart watch illustrated in FIG.
2;
FIG. 4 is a partial front view of the wearable electronic device
including the smart watch illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3;
FIG. 5 is a side view of an exemplary oyster type clasp mechanism
of a latch having a hinge;
FIG. 6 is a side view of an exemplary butterfly type clasp
mechanism of a latch having a pair of hinges; and
FIG. 7 is a block diagram of an exemplary wearable electronic
device.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)
While the present invention is susceptible of embodiment in various
forms, there is shown in the drawings and will hereinafter be
described presently preferred embodiments with the understanding
that the present disclosure is to be considered an exemplification
of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the
specific embodiments illustrated. One skilled in the art will
hopefully appreciate that the elements in the drawings are
illustrated for simplicity and clarity and have not necessarily
been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the
elements in the drawings may be exaggerated relative to other
elements with the intent to help improve understanding of the
aspects of the embodiments being illustrated and described.
As mentioned previously examples of wearable devices, which are
increasingly going beyond their more traditional functionality and
are interfacing more directly with other nearby devices include
smart watches, activity trackers, smart glasses, wireless headsets,
as well as medical monitoring/control/assist devices, such as
hearing aids and wearable heart rate monitors. The incorporation of
various forms of wireless communication capabilities, which can
interact with other devices in addition to more directly with a
communication network, allows the wearable device to at least some
times extend the user interface of the other device to the device
being worn. This can sometimes make interacting with the features
of the other device more convenient, but in turn can also make more
relevant the ability of the wearable device to more reliably
support wireless communications.
FIG. 1 illustrates a view 100 of one or more exemplary wearable
electronic devices, which incorporate wireless communications,
being worn by a person 102. For example, the wearable electronic
devices can include a wireless headset 104, a smart watch 106, or a
remote medical monitor/control/assist device 108. Generally, each
of the devices include features which allow the device to attach to
the person 102. For example, the devices might include a clip, so
that it can be attached to the user, such as the user's ear.
Alternatively and/or additionally, the device might include a band
or a chain, which can be used to encircle a part of the user, such
as a user's wrist or neck.
As further noted previously, there is a desire for at least some of
these devices to support conductive bodies, as well as conductive
forms of attachment to a human body, where the conductive forms can
sometimes include the use of metals, which can at least sometimes
be one or both more aesthetically desirable and/or more
structurally durable. However the merging of wireless
communications, with a greater use of conductive materials in the
body of the devices as well as the forms of user attachment can
present challenges relative to the reliability of wireless
communications. This has often resulted in antenna designs, which
have been incorporated into the conductive structures, which can
often benefit from the radiating structures of the antenna being
sometimes isolated from some of the other conductive structures, in
order that the radiating structure and any nearby impacting
elements remain predictable and well defined in the various
anticipated use configurations.
FIG. 2 illustrates a partial perspective view 200 of a wearable
electronic device including a smart watch 206. The wearable
electronic device includes a conductive housing 202, and a use
location attachment 204, such as a wrist band. In the illustrated
embodiment, the smart watch 206 includes a conductive housing 202
within which a radiating structure, namely an antenna, for
supporting wireless communications can be formed. The conductive
housing 202 further includes user interface elements, such as a
watch face 208 in the form of an electronic display upon which
information can be presented to the user 102. The electronic
display in at least some instances can include a touch sensitive
matrix via which the user 102 can interact with displayed elements
for providing input to the device from the user 102. The user
interface elements additionally include a pair of user actuatable
buttons 210 on the side of the housing 202. The conductive housing
202 still further includes at least a first pair of conductive lugs
212, which are external to and mechanically coupled to the main
body of the conductive housing 202. In the particular embodiment
illustrated, the conductive lugs 212 are integrally formed as part
of the main body.
Each of the conductive lugs 212, generally includes two ends, a
first end 214 that is mechanically coupled to the main body of the
conductive housing 202, and a second end 216, which extends away
from the main body a distance corresponding to the length of the
lug 212. By extending away from the main body of the conductive
housing 202, the structure which allows the wrist band to couple to
the main body can be external to the main body. This allows for
space internal to the main body to be conserved for use by other
elements, which support the intended functionality of wearable
electronic device, such as electronic circuitry, power storage,
and/or interface elements. Because the lugs 212 are conductive and
are mechanically coupled to the conductive housing 202, electrical
currents which flow through the conductive housing can also flow
into and along the length of the conductive lugs 212, as well as
any other conductive element that comes into contact with the
conductive lugs.
In at least some instances, there is a desire to support a largely
conductive use location attachment 204, i.e. wristband. In the
illustrated embodiment, the wristband mechanically couples to the
main body of the conductive housing 202 via the at least first pair
of conductive lugs 212. Furthermore, the use location attachment
204, i.e. wristband, includes a plurality of segments, which are
arranged end to end in sequence to form an overall length of
elements generally following a single path. In the illustrated
embodiment, where the use location attachment 204 is a wristband,
at least some of the plurality of segments form links in the
wristband.
The use location attachment 204 mechanically couples to the
conductive lugs at at least one end, where while the use location
attachment 204 generally includes a plurality of conductive
segments arranged end to end, at least the segment 218, which most
closely mechanically couples to the first pair of conductive lugs
212, is largely non-conductive. Furthermore, the segment 218, which
most closely mechanically couples to the first pair of conductive
lugs 212, is mechanically coupled to the first pair of conductive
lugs 212 via a non-conductive pin 220, which extends between the
second ends 216 of the first pair of conductive lugs 212. In at
least the illustrated embodiment, the non-conductive pin 220 is
received within a hole which extends through the segment 218, which
most closely mechanically couples to the first pair of conductive
lugs 212, and the first pair of conductive lugs 212.
In at least some instances, at least some of the segments includes
two side lobes 222, separated by a cross member 224. In order to
match an appearance more consistent with the segments of the use
location attachment 204, which are largely formed from a conductive
material, with the segment(s) 218 of the use location attachment
204, which are largely formed from a non-conductive material, the
largely non-conductive segment(s) 218 can include a metalized outer
surface. In at least some instances, the metalized outer surface
can take the form of a conductive sleeve, which fits over the cross
member 224. In at least some instances, the metalized outer surface
can take the form of an applied metallization layer, such as a
non-conductive vacuum metallization (NCVM) layer.
While a metalized outer surface, associated with at least the cross
member of a non-conductive segment, such as the segment 218, which
most closely mechanically couples to the first pair of conductive
lugs 212, can help to provide a more uniform and/or pleasing
metalized look to the use location attachment 204, i.e. wristband
in the present embodiment, care is taken to isolate the conductive
portions of the use location attachment 204 from the conductive
housing 202. In the illustrated embodiment, such an isolation can
include a space 226 between a cross member 224 having the metalized
outer surface and the conductive housing 202; a space 228 between
the cross member 224 having the metalized outer surface and a
subsequent conductive segment 230; and a space 232 between the
cross member 224 having the metalized outer surface and the
conductive lugs 212.
In addition to addressing any direct mechanical coupling between
the conductive elements of the conductive housing 202, and the
conductive elements of the use location attachment 204, care may
need to be taken to avoid any meaningful unintended electromagnetic
coupling. By using a non-conductive pin 220, which extends between
the second ends 216 of the first pair of conductive lugs 212 for
mechanically coupling the use location attachment 204 to the
conductive housing 202, and a largely non-conductive segment 218, a
current loop from any surface currents and/or currents associated
with any radiating structures, i.e. antennas, which might travel
through the conductive structures extending around the space 226
can be reduced. In turn, the production of any corresponding
electromagnetic energy will be reduced.
Increased isolation from the cross coupling of electromagnetic
energy can be enhanced through a sufficiently large space 226
between the metalized outer surface of the cross member 224 of
segment 218 and the conductive housing 202. The size of such a
space can be managed through controlling the length of the lugs 212
between the first ends 214 and the second ends 216. Increased
isolation from the cross coupling of electromagnetic energy can be
further enhanced by including sufficient spacing between any
metalized outer surface of the cross member 224 of segment 218, and
a subsequent conductive segment in the use location attachment 204.
Increased isolation from the cross coupling of electromagnetic
energy can still further be enhanced by including sufficient
spacing between any metalized outer surface of the cross member 224
and the at least first pair of lugs 212. Such a distance can be
managed through control of the width of the associated side lobes
222 of the non-conductive segment 218.
FIG. 3 illustrates a partial exploded perspective view 300 of the
wearable electronic device including the smart watch 206,
illustrated in FIG. 2. In the partial exploded perspective view
300, the non-conductive pin 220 is more clearly shown. The
non-conductive pin 220 is adapted to extend through a hole 302 in
each of the first pair of lugs 212 proximate the second end 216.
The non-conductive pin 220 is further adapted to extend through a
hole 304 in the cross member 224 of the segment 218 of the use
location attachment 204, which most closely mechanically couples to
the first pair of conductive lugs 212. In the illustrated
embodiment, a pair of caps 306 can be used to close up at least one
of the holes 302 in the lugs 212 after the non-conductive pin 220
has been inserted there through.
The partial exploded perspective view 300 further more clearly
highlights a metalized outer surface of the cross member 224 in the
form of a conductive sleeve 308, which can be used to wrap and/or
extend around at least some of the non-conductive portions of the
cross member 224. Still further, a subsequent segment of the use
location attachment 204 can be mechanically coupled to an
immediately prior segment in the sequence via a link coupling pin
310, which in at least some instance can be conductive. More
specifically, the link coupling pin 310 can extend through a hole
in the cross member of the subsequent segment, as well as
respective holes 312 in the side lobes 222 of the immediately prior
segment. Further adjacent segments in the sequence of segments of
the use location attachment 204 can be similarly mechanically
coupled together, so as to form a sequence of segments that
includes a plurality of segments.
FIG. 4 illustrates a partial front view 400 of the wearable
electronic device including the smart watch 206, illustrated in
FIGS. 2 and 3. In the front view 400, the potential for a second
pair of lugs 412 is more clearly illustrated, which can be used to
mechanically couple another segment of the use location attachment
to the conductive housing 202 of the main body of the wearable
electronic device. In at least the illustrated embodiment, the
further segment 418 that is most closely mechanically coupled to
the second pair of lugs 412 is similarly likely to be
non-conductive. Both the first and second pair of lugs 212 and 412
can be used to mechanically couple to opposite ends of the use
location attachment, so as to form a loop 420. The formed loop 420
can be used to encapsulate a body part of a user 102, such as a
user's wrist.
Along the length of the loop 420, a latch can be included that can
allow the use location attachment 204 to be selectively opened or
its length extended. By selectively opening or extending the loop
420, and then subsequently closing or shortening the loop 420, the
loop can be made to traverse a wider element before the loop is
again made to fit more snuggly at the intended use position, such
as traversing over the wider hand before being fit more snuggly at
or near the wrist of the user.
FIG. 5 illustrates a side view of an exemplary oyster type clasp
mechanism 500 of a latch, which has a hinge 502, so as to
selectively extend or shorten the overall length of the loop 420.
When the portion 504 on a first side of the hinge 502 is rotated
about the hinge 502 so as to coincide with the portion 506 on the
second side of the hinge 502, the clasp mechanism 500 can
transition 508 the latch between an open and a closed position.
While the mechanism has been described with a single hinge 502,
other related mechanisms of a different type can include additional
hinges.
FIG. 6 illustrates a side view of an exemplary butterfly type clasp
mechanism 600 of a latch, which has a pair of hinges 602 with the
principal difference relative to the oyster type clasp mechanism
being the number of segments 604 that can rotate 606 between
overlapping and non-overlapping positions. One skilled in the art
will appreciate that still further configurations with the same or
different number of hinges are possible without departing from the
teachings of the present invention.
As noted previously, by using lugs 212 and 412 to mechanically
couple the use location attachment 204 to the main body of the
conductive housing 202, generally outside the main body, the space
internal to the main body can be conserved for use by other
elements, which support the intended functionality of wearable
electronic device, such as electronic circuitry, power storage,
and/or interface elements. FIG. 7 illustrates a block diagram 700
of an exemplary wearable device, such as a smart watch 106, in
accordance with at least one embodiment. As noted previously, smart
watches generally increasingly make use of wireless communications
for extending interfacing, access and control of other nearby
devices.
In the exemplary embodiment, illustrated, the wearable device can
include a controller 702, which is adapted for managing at least
some of the operation of the device. In some embodiments, the
controller 702 could be implemented in the form of one or more
processors 703, which are adapted to execute one or more sets of
pre-stored instructions 704, which may be used to form, support, or
implement the operation of at least part of one or more controller
modules including those used to manage wireless communication. The
one or more sets of pre-stored instructions 704 may be stored in a
storage element 706, which while shown as being separate from and
coupled to the controller 702, may additionally or alternatively
include some data storage capability for storing at least some of
the prestored instructions for use with the controller 702, that
are integrated as part of the controller 702.
The storage element 706 could include one or more forms of volatile
and/or non-volatile memory, including conventional ROM, EPROM, RAM,
or EEPROM. The possible additional data storage capabilities may
also include one or more forms of auxiliary storage, which is
either fixed or removable, such as a hard drive, a floppy drive, a
memory card, or a memory stick. One skilled in the art will still
further appreciate that still other further forms of storage
elements could be used without departing from the teachings of the
present disclosure. In the same or other instances, the controller
702 may additionally or alternatively incorporate state machines
and/or logic circuitry, which can be used to implement at least
partially, some of the modules and/or functionality associated with
the controller 702.
In the illustrated embodiment, the device further includes one or
more transceivers 708, which are coupled to the controller 702 and
which serve to manage the external communication of data including
their wireless transmission and/or receipt using one or more forms
of communications. In such an instance, the transceivers will
generally be coupled to one or more antennas 710 via which the
wireless communication signals will be radiated and received. For
example, the one or more transceivers 708 might include a receiver
for supporting communications with a global positioning system, one
or more transceivers for supporting cellular radio frequency
communications, a transceiver for supporting Bluetooth.RTM. type
communications, a transceiver for supporting near field
communications, as well as a transceiver for supporting Wi-Fi.RTM.
type communications. Transceivers for other forms of communication
are additionally and/or alternatively possible. While in some
instances each transceiver can be associated with a separate
antenna, it is envisioned that in the present instance an antenna
may be able to support multiple transceivers and/or multiple forms
of communication. As noted previously, the one or more antennas in
at least some instance will be incorporated as part of the
conductive housing.
In the present instance, the one or more transceivers 708 are
coupled to at least one antenna 710 via a multiplexer and impedance
matching circuit 712, which together can help to facilitate the
multiple transceivers 708 interacting with the one or more antennas
710. The multiplexer portion of the circuit can support multiple
transceivers being coupled to a common antenna. The impedance
matching portion of the circuit can support the efficiency of power
transfer between a transceiver 708 and a respective antenna 710
during the transmission and receipt of a wireless signal. The
multiplexer portion of the circuit 712 can include various
combinations of diplexers, triplexers and quadriplexers.
Multiplexing can involve transmit and receive signal combining.
In the illustrated embodiment, the wearable device can additionally
include user interface circuitry 714, some of which can be
associated with producing an output 716 to be perceived by the
user, and some of which can be associated with detecting an input
718 from the user. For example, the user interface circuitry 714
can include a display adapted for producing a visually perceptible
output, which may further support a touch sensitive array for
receiving an input from the user. The user interface circuitry may
also include a speaker for producing an audio output, and a
microphone for receiving an audio input. The user interface output
716 could further include a vibrational element. The user interface
input 718 could further include one or more user actuatable
switches 210, one or more sensors, as well as one or more cameras.
Still further alternative and additional forms of user interface
elements may be possible.
While preferred embodiments of the invention have been illustrated
and described, it is to be understood that the invention is not so
limited. For example, the present invention can be suitable for use
with other types of wearable electronic devices in addition to the
more specifically noted smart watch. Furthermore, in addition to a
band type, use location attachment, still other forms of use
location attachments are possible without departing from the
teachings of the present inventions. For example, the links in the
band could alternatively be links in a chain, which might be more
suitable for wearing one or more types of wearable electronic
devices about the neck of a user. Still further, some use location
attachments may be suitable for attachment to something other than
a person. Numerous further modifications, changes, variations,
substitutions and equivalents will occur to those skilled in the
art without departing from the spirit and scope of the present
invention as defined by the appended claims.
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